[Rockstar]

9th May, 1943. A Junkers 88R-1 night fighter, carrying the Luftwaffe’s latest Lichtenstein radar, landed at RAF Dyce near Aberdeen. Unlike many other German aircraft which became unintentional ‘guests’ in Britain, this arrival was no accident - the pilot and crew had intentionally defected.

Oblt. Herbert Schmid took off from Kristiansand, Norway, at 16:50 with Obfw Paul Rosenberger and Obfw Erich Kantwill on board. Shortly after takeoff, a false distress message declaring an engine fire was sent and the Ju 88 disappeared from radar as it dropped to sea level before setting course for Scotland. The aircraft’s dinghy was released to convince air-sea rescue teams that it had been lost.

Schmid circled off the coast near Aberdeen and, when two Spitfires arrived to investigate, dropped his undercarriage and fired flares to indicate surrender before being escorted to RAF Dyce. Despite a burst of fire from the airfield defences, the Ju 88 landed safely and was placed under guard. It was later flown to Farnborough, where both it and the Lichtenstein radar were extensively tested. This provided vital technical information that helped to develop countermeasures and a homing device for British night fighters.

The actions of Schmid and his crew seem to have been primarily motivated by anti-Nazi feeling. It had not gone unnoticed in Luftwaffe circles that they had so far failed to score a single victory, despite being highly experienced. Having made it clear they wanted to actively work for the British against Hitler’s regime, they were given false identities and positions at the Political Warfare Executive. Schmid, Rosenberger and Kantwill took part in various activities including POW interviews and propaganda broadcasts to Germany.